I found a beautiful boxlock 16 ga. Simson in a little gunshop yesterday, on consignment. It has nearly 1OO% engraving coverage, 28" barrels, and is in almost perfect condition, easily 98%. Not a scratch on it anywhere, including the buttplate. It has the engraved crossbolt through the cheeks. Original chokes, just an unused 1952 mfg. gun. No model number anywhere visible.

Can anyone help with info on this gun? I am almost totally ignorant of German guns, but recognize the quality here.

Thanks, SRH

P.S. It is an ejector gun.

Edited by Stan (07/16/1707:32 AM)

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"Somehow, the sound of a shotgun tends to cheer one up" - Robert Ruark

What was the tube steel type & did it have Simson in script on the underside of the tubes? 1952 was about the time when quality hit bottom and there was a threat of revolt by the mechanics in Suhl if quality components were not supplied to said mechanics. This is when the 4 Ringe Russian 50A arrived. Post WWII till after this dip biased the masses to described the wares of Suhl to be inferior and the Quality Seals arrived on the scene. Could be a shooter or could be something akin to Otto Reif's wares.

Thanks for the reply, raimey. I took it apart, but like a dummy did not take pics of the marks, and cannot remember. I remember a tiny touchmark on the underside of the buttstock just aft of the grip. Very hard to read, and totally unobtrusive, but it was a two digit number followed by something like "Wetten - ??????. The serial number was either 17005 or 170005, can't remember if it was 5 or 6 digits. Cheekpiece, original sling swivels. The year of mfg. was written on the hang tag. I have not verified it.

I don't really need the gun, but it was in such high condition that I considered making an offer on it, possibly to use as trading fodder. Really beautiful engraving, with a Fox on the floorplate.

_________________________
"Somehow, the sound of a shotgun tends to cheer one up" - Robert Ruark

If it is a racehorse deal or similar, I'd let it follow me home but that's because I'm somewhat partial to Germanic tools. Witten maybe?? If so, it could be of better quality. I wouldn't wave you off, however; as you might become a convert?

Would it be appropriate that the type steel used, if it were Witten, would be stamped into the wood? I've never seen anything like that before on a civilian gun .......... but, then again, what I don't know about German guns would fill volumes.

What particularly attracted me was the engraving. So much German engraving is so bold and high relief, with oak clusters, etc., that this one's "more delicate" style really jumped out at me. I think I will contact the owner of the shop and ask for some good pics. If I get them I will post here.

Thanks all for the help. "Conversion" just might be a possibility .............

SRH

_________________________
"Somehow, the sound of a shotgun tends to cheer one up" - Robert Ruark

Stan, sorry! I read your post too quick on my smartphone.. I think, Witten would not be stamped into the wood of the stock. Maybe it's an Arsenal number? One has to see a picture of this, could be perhaps "Wettin" = 1) town in Germany 2) old German reigning family in Saxonia.

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